Legacy

CHAPTER 4:

VASILISA:

Due to the unfortunate nature of our first encounter, our grandparents thought it would be best if my ‘husband’ and I spent more time together, so we were tasked with designing our home as well as our ‘dream wedding’ that was apparently more of a nightmare than a dream.

I've been busier than ever over the past few weeks, and my dearest fiancée isn't exactly making things easier for me. I don't think we can ever agree on anything without fighting first.

Our grandparents think they're doing us a favour and think that spending more time together means we won't kill each other once we eventually get married and are behind closed doors and I haven't heard a more laughable idea.

Well, aside from what this ass of a wedding planner is talking about. I have all the money in the world to afford any wedding planner I want, but it would feel too impersonal.

I wasn't lucky enough to get married for love and choose the man of my dreams, but the wedding is still mine!

Her vision for the flower arrangements, drapes and curtains makes it seem like she's planning a kid's birthday party.

I have to bite my tongue just to prevent myself from saying some things so horrible that she would actually quit her job.

She looks so small and frail, almost like she was new to the business and unsure of herself. It also didn't help that she stands at five feet three.

“Tracy, your ideas are…something but it's not exactly what I'm going for. Starting with the colours, they are way off and it doesn't fit my vision” My voice was soft yet firm.

“Oh, I thought this was all agreed upon between you and Mr Moretti. I ran this through him and he said you were on board with it” With every word, her voice got quieter and quieter.

Most likely because she could see the ever-growing look of irritation and anger on my face as she spoke.

“When did you make this decision?” My voice dropped and I could practically see red. My body was already violently shaking and taking deep breaths to keep my cool wasn't helping.

“Shortly before coming to you. We sat at the balcony—” I sprang to my feet and basically flew to the location of my beloved husband before she could finish her sentence.

Tracy is probably behind me, trying to keep up with my long strides but it wasn't my concern right now. My biggest concern was confronting my ass of a husband.

I could hear my name being called in the background but I couldn't care less. Brushing past all the maids and workers, I took the next left and there he was in his full glory.

Antonio's lips curved into a smile and his laugh filled the room. He hadn't noticed me as he was seated with someone I hadn't seen before.

The young man had dirty blonde hair and chocolate eyes, dressed just as formally as Antonio. For some reason he didn't look evil or like he was in the Mafia. He's probably the heir to a billion-dollar company or something.

The two men kept laughing it up, drinks in hand until my ever-so-loving husband noticed me and his smile went out the window.

Good, I'm glad my presence ruins his day, it'll be worse once we're together.

His friend, on the other hand, stared at me with curiosity. Antonio's eyes roamed my figure from my head to my feet, like he was trying to analyse and find flaws in me.

“Wife,” he frowned. The unromantic pronunciation made my skin stiffen.

“Not yet I'm not. What kind of sick, ugly vision do you have for this wedding? Last I checked it’s OUR wedding and as much as I'd like to cut you out, I can't. In the same way, you can't cut me out either”

He didn't say anything at first. He just kept staring before dropping his glass which contained whiskey on the side table.

“Because I know you'd want some kind of out-of-pocket, fantasy bullshit for a wedding and I'm not having that” It was hard to miss the irritated tone in his voice.

“And you think I want my guests thinking I'm throwing a kid's birthday party? Your colour scheme is awful and it's very clownish. I mean, that's probably what you are and not the all so powerful don you think you are” I spat, inching closer towards him, not in the slightest bit intimidated by this persona he's putting up.

His jaw ticked but he remained silent for the longest time. His friend was trying his best to stifle a laugh and it irritated Antonio even further.

“Fine, let's both discuss things with the wedding planner right here and now. You’ve already spoilt my mood, might as well get it over with”

Tracy eventually sat with us. Antonio and I shared a couch and avoided physical contact as much as possible.

As I had mentioned earlier, we could barely agree on anything before breaking into an argument so it turned into a disaster.

“No! Absolutely not” Antonio threw a fit again over the choice of flowers. I said I wanted roses and he immediately threw that idea out the window.

“You can't keep disagreeing with everything you glorified manchild” I glared at him. What was his deal? This repetitive pattern was becoming exhausting.

“I've let you have your way long enough. This is something I refuse to have and nothing is changing my mind. If you know what's best for you, you'd drop the topic and pick another f*****g flower” His chest heaved as his cold eyes met mine.

A small bead of sweat had trickled down his forehead and onto his brows. Antonio looked slightly shaken.

At this point, I'm sure we've done a bang-up job at traumatising Tracy. She just sat there, trying to hide behind her clipboard. Her throat cleared, it was her way of easing tension and getting our attention.

“Might I suggest Peonies?” Her voice was small and unsure. Is this what the rest of my marriage is going to be like? Constant arguing? Fighting? Being at each other's throats?

The best thing I could do is ignore him but how do you ignore someone you're promised to for eternity with?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“You look beautiful baby, if only your parents were here to see this” Deduska smiled as he covered my veil completely and looked at me with slightly teary eyes.

I was beginning to tear up too but for a completely different reason.

It was finally my long-awaited wedding day and I'd never felt more heartbroken. Everyone said I looked beautiful, and no doubt they were right…on the outside. It felt like I was slowly dying inside and becoming a shell of myself on the inside.

A half-genuine smile forced itself across my face.

I'm glad he'd be the one to walk me down the aisle at least. Turning around, I glanced at the mirror to get one final look at myself.

To say I looked different would be an understatement. It was like looking at a completely different person, completely unrecognisable.

Most girls see their wedding as a euphoric moment, being promised to the love of their life, but not me. I'm being used to buy peace, nothing more than a vessel.

“Are you ready?” Deduska stretched his arm out for me. I'm not ready, I never wanted this but I can't say that. I can't be seen letting cold feet get the best of me.

So, I wrapped my hands around his biceps as the doors swung open. The church was filled to the brim with friends, allies and my ‘new family’.

Everyone had their eyes on me as I slowly yet gracefully walked to meet my prize. Antonio looked breathtaking in his suit, but it doesn't cover up the fact that he's an ass underneath.

Once we were at the altar, grandfather handed me over to Antonio and went to his seat, but not before whispering something in his ear.

When it was just the two of us, a devilishly mischievous smirk played on his lips.

This is about to be an interesting wedding.